The Portage boy is battling a serious illness that has caused him to miss a significant amount of time from Kazoo School. But the third grader becomes energized when he draws dragons and lizards, his mother, Mauli Verma said.

Shaurya Verma will show around 20 pieces of art starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Public Media Network, on the third floor of the Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall. He is one of 25 stops at the free event that runs from 5-9 p.m. at various businesses downtown.

“Lately, he feels so tired he has to nap in the afternoon, but when you talk about drawing, he’ll sit up. I don’t know where the energy comes from,” she said.

For the last week or so, Aubrey Hardaway, an art instructor at Kalamazoo Valley Community College who volunteered at Kazoo School, including in Shaurya's class, has been going to the Verma's home to give one-on-one drawing lessons to him. It's often the highlight of his day, Mauli Verma said.

If you go

Art Hop

What: Collaboration between businesses and artists, put on by the Arts Council of Greater KalamazooWhen: 5-9 p.m. FridayWhere: Various locations downtownCost: Free

"When Aubrey comes over, I can't even describe it," said Mauli Verma, a psychiatrist at Community Mental Health.

The Verma family -- which also includes Shaurya's brother Arya, 5, and father Ashish, an internist at Sturgis Hospital -- moved from India to Kalamazoo in 2004 so Mauli could start her residency in psychology.

Mauli Verma said at an early age, Shaurya, who will turn 9 in July, showed a budding talent.

“He’s very observant, sensitive and detail-oriented. Nothing misses his eye. He loves to draw," she said.

Hardaway said Shaurya's work continues to improve. The two started a blog together -- aubreyjewel.com/site/Shaurya/Shaurya.html -- where they share his projects. On occasion, Hardaway will draw a basic creature and let him "Shaurya-fy it" or add his details, touch.

“He’s got these really great patterns and it’s really stylized. It’s funny and funky at the same time – a lot of spikes, a lot of scales," she said.